Cataracts Specialist

What are cataracts?

In a healthy eye, the proteins and water that make up the natural lens allow light to pass through without obstruction. As we age, those proteins can clump together, causing our vision to become cloudy. Cataracts will worsen over time and may lead to progressive visual loss.

What can cause cataracts?

The lens within the eye clouds naturally as we age, causing a gradual reduction of vision. Other factors that can progress cataracts more quickly include:

• Injury/Illness
• Medication
• Diabetes
• Alcohol use and/or smoking
• Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light or radiation

What are symptoms of cataracts?

Cataracts will continue to progress with no apparent pain, although patients may experience some of the following symptoms:

• Blurry or hazy vision
• Double vision
• Colors that appear to be faded
• Poor vision in bright light or at night

How do optometrists diagnose cataracts?

To be certain that you may be a candidate for cataract surgery, the specialists at Eye Care Unlimited perform a cataract evaluation. The eye care team also examines your medical history to learn about any medications, illnesses, prior surgeries, or family history of eye disease.

In addition to looking carefully at your eyes and health history, expect the optometrist to perform a series of tests. Some of these might include:

• Visual Acuity and Refraction testing
• Slit-lamp Biomicroscopy
• Glare and Contrast Sensitivity
• Corneal Topography
• Optical Coherence Tomography of the Macula
• Dilated Direct Retinal examination

How are cataracts treated?

Cataracts can sometimes be treated with non-surgical methods such as:

• New eyeglass prescription
• Magnifying lenses
• Anti-glare sunglasses

However, if cataracts begin to interfere with reading ability, work, or other daily activities, cataract surgery may be recommended. Cataract surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that usually takes only a few minutes to perform and is painless for most patients.

What is cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery is one of the safest, most successful procedures available, and over 2 million corrective surgeries are performed annually. The surgery includes:

1. Incision: To remove your cataract, your surgeon will make an incision in your cornea and lens capsule.
2. Phacoemulsification: Using this technique, your surgeon will break up and remove your clouded leans.
3. Implantation: An article lens called an IOL, or intraocular lens, will then be implanted to properly focus light in your eye and correct your vision.

There are several IOLs available to patients during cataract surgery. Multifocal IOLs allow for full vision correction at near, intermediate, and far distances, decreasing dependency on eyeglasses or contact lenses in most patients.